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Let’s talk about Red Flags: what are they?
Why should we watch for them?
Are Red Flags always harbingers of disordered behavior to come?
Are Red Flags the same for all?
I’ll start a list. Please expand, add your experiences.
Vote below for the behavior you’ve experienced.

1-Lovebombing: Falls in love at/before first sight; puts you on a pedestal/idealizes/mirrors your wants/needs. Moves fast, intense, escalates early to hook victim in. Victim pursued mercilessly via phone, text, Facebook/any social media/email.

2-All his/her previous relationships were ‘crazy’ or ‘psycho’..,especially if it’s only his/her word for it.

3-Alternatively, might still be friends with family/exes(kept as supply, to demonstrate control.)

Next::
Fill in some red flags you’ve seen.

"Abuse Survivors(Emotional, verbal, physical, sexual, toxic relationship)" Group join our group, if you like.

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CarolinaGirl60 8 June 21
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15 comments

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1

Years ago I began dating a guy that I thought was too good to be true. So attentive, bright and fun. But every now and then when we would talk about things we had done or liked to do, he would start a sentence with the word "We..." and quickly correct himself by changing it to "I..." About the fourth time that happened, I asked, "Hey, are you married?" After a pause he answered, Well, yes and no..." I told him that the yes canceled out the no and that I needed him to take me home immediately. So, add those little slips of the tongue to the Red Flag list.

Deb57 Level 8 June 22, 2018

Too good to be true often means they are ‘mirroring’ what you want. Specialty of sociopaths. I’m glad you caught him early!

1

My red flag would be selfishness. If I note that she's completely self absorbed I run.

1
3

while dating tries to cut you off from friends and family.

Isolation is par: harder to abuse of people are around!

1

If I've ever had a bad breakup, I don't remember it. I am good friends with both my ex wives. I can't think of an ex girlfriend or boyfriend I've had that I wouldn't hang out with platonically.

Never even considered that would be a red flag. In fact, if that's a problem... huge red flag. 😉

2

You could add gaslighting. Gaslighting is a tactic in which a person or entity, in order to gain more power, makes a victim question their reality.
[psychologytoday.com]

@SACatWalker In movies or books not all tormentors are human. IRL, some people consider the spin doctoring done by some companies to be a form of gaslighting,

Very true. Also the power play is interesting making a person do what they really don't want to and so much control that they end up running the other way.

3

In my opinion, there are many "users" too. Red flags are jumping from one relationship to the next to see what you can get. Being on the rebound without thinking things through can be toxic. I can usually tell if a person is sincere or not. It's just getting past all the smokescreens because people lie and tell lots of things until you get to the last push to get answers. They usually exhibit anger to stop the conversation. That's where the truth of what they are thinking usually lies.

So,true about the anger.

@IAmLove I would hope to think that people would be more honest or just not disclose things they don't want to than using smokescreens. It would be better to keep the mystery about some things until one is ready to reveal it. Digging through the lies put up as smokescreens until you get to the truth and have to deal with the anger is no fun.

2

All of the above are red flags!
Add:

  1. Black and White thinking: See's individuals as all good or all bad and can switch back and forth.
  2. Extreme emotions: Super Happy, Super Sad, Super mad, flips at the slightest trigger (sad and crying one second, Raging the next)
  3. Revises Facts to fit feelings
  4. I hate you/Don't Leave me
  5. False allegations
  6. Constantly have to prove your worth
  7. Double Standards
  1. Too many Texts/Calls often with long diatribes. Responses must be emmediate if not sooner.
  1. Devalues others
  2. Gaslighting
    ....to name a few others
4

Did you mean hovering? I wouldn't consider it abuse if my partner did all the hoovering. We have carpeted stairs and they're a pain to vacuum.

Hoovering Means trying to Suck you back in once you try to leave.

@Humanity4all lots of tricks to the hoover, too. Suicide threats, manufactured health crisis, pity plays...some even will promise to get therapy.

@Humanity4all Thank you for answering, I had never heard of this before!

@CarolinaGirl60 I have never heard these referred to as hoovering, thank you for explaining further!

0

The Marine Corps flag is all red with a gold emblem and I am very proud to have been a member.

Marine Level 8 June 21, 2018
2

Any man who's used prostitutes.

4

Does hoovering mean they come over to vacuum your house? That could be a good thing as long as they call first.

Hoovering as in ‘suck you back in’. They have many many tactics to do it.

3

I think it depends on the people and in hindsight, many things could be considered red flags.

I learn as I go. Most Cluster B/toxic folks act predictably alike, but there’s always that ONE inventive evil asshole!

2

It is stated that god comes first, also pets come first.

3

It's flattering at first, but quickly becomes unwanted.

EdEarl Level 8 June 21, 2018

That’s how I feel during lovebombing. For a short time, it’s great to hear how wonderful I am...but they cross the skeeze line pretty quickly, and it just gets creepy.

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